Sound healing is a form of alternative medicine that has been around for centuries and has spanned many cultures, including ancient Greeks, Native Americans, and more. Throughout history, sound therapy has been used for matters of the mind and body in order to boost mindfulness, enhance moods and even reduce pain.
Types of Sound Therapy
There are several types of sound therapy that offer an array of benefits. Here are two of the most common types of sound therapy that are used today.
Sound Bath
A sound bath is a type of meditative sound healing, which involves ‘bathing’ in sound waves. These waves of sound are produced by various sources, including gongs, singing bowls, tuning forks, percussion instruments and even the human voice. These sounds are produced in a non-repetitive way to prevent the mind from recognizing a recurrent beat.
The aim of a sound bath is to create a completely relaxed environment for the bather, which will allow them to relieve any stress, anxiety, or pain. Participants will usually lie on their back during a sound bath in the restorative yoga position known as Śavāsana. They will typically stay in this state of deep relaxation for around 60 to 90 minutes to enable the mind and body to restore.
Sound Massage
A sound massage is a type of mental and physical therapy. This typically involves a full body massage accompanied by the soothing sounds of Himalayan singing bowls and tuning forks.
Sound massage therapy is designed to relieve pain and tension by massaging internal organs and tissue, which aids and prevents injury. This type of sound healing also helps to lift the mood of the person receiving the massage by reducing stress and anxiety.
What are the Different Sound Techniques Used?
Sound therapists use various sound techniques to help clients achieve complete relaxation while also aiding injury, pain, stress and anxiety.
Singing bowls
Singing bowls are commonly used during sound therapy sessions to promote calm. Singing bowls are traditionally made from metal alloys, including copper, silver, iron, tin or lead. Sound and vibrations are created with a mallet which is used to tap or circle the bowl.
Tibetan or Himalayan singing bowls are the most popular choices for sound therapists, as they create a beautiful and calming sound. They come in varying sizes, and the sound waves created can differ depending on the size and the type of metal used.
Tuning forks
Tuning forks are another popular sound healing tool that has been utilized for centuries after ancient civilizations discovered the benefits of the sound they produced. Tuning forks are typically made out of steel and feature two prongs.
There are various types of tuning fork therapy. Some sound therapists use weighted tuning forks for lighter sounds. However, one of the most popular methods involves tapping unweighted tuning forks lightly onto a rubber mallet in order to activate the right frequency. Once the sound and vibrations are created, the tuning fork will then be placed over any problem areas on the body to reduce pain or tension.
Gongs
Gongs are a type of ancient healing instrument which are normally hit by a hammer to produce distinct but relaxing sounds. They are typically used during a sound bath to create the perfect encompassing sounds that help with relaxation.
The sound generated from a bong will vary depending on the size of the gong, as well as the type of gong mallet used. The harder the end of the mallet is, the louder the sound will be, while softer mallet ends tend to produce more muted audio.
Binaural beats
Binaural beats or brainwave entertainment involves the use of two different tones with varying frequencies that are played into each ear. This creates the illusion that you are listening to sounds with a completely different frequency. It normally includes pulsing sounds, which are utilized to enhance focus while reducing fatigue and improving sleep.
The brain will adjust to these sounds and will alter mood according to the frequencies used. For example, low-frequency binaural beats are normally used to induce a relaxed state while promoting better sleep. For increased focus, sound healers will use higher frequency sounds as they make people feel more alert.
What are the Benefits of Sound Healing?
Sound healing has been proven to benefit a wide range of mental and physical problems. Here are some of the top advantages of sound healing therapy:
Relieves stress and anxiety
The relaxing sound waves played throughout sound therapy offer the perfect stress and anxiety relief. The sounds help the mind relax by using low to moderate volume, which can slow down the breath and heart rate. This allows the mind to go into a meditative state and block out any stress or anxiety-inducing issues.
Reduces pain
Sound massage therapy is perfect for athletes or anyone suffering from pain or an injury. This type of sound healing combines physical and mental therapy, as it involves a deep massaging treatment with the soothing sounds of Himalayan singing bowls.
Improves sleep
Sound therapy is proven to be especially beneficial for sleep. This is due to the relaxing sounds played throughout a sound healing session, which helps relax the body and the mind. This promotes better sleep and also reduces fatigue, which helps people feel more energised and refreshed.
Boosts overall health
Sound healing offers a wide range of health benefits, including better sleep and reducing chronic pain symptoms. It has also been proven to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, as the treatment helps the body and the mind achieve complete relaxation with soothing sound waves.
Now you understand more about sound healing, why not try it out yourself and reap the many benefits that come with sound therapy? When seeking this type of therapy, you need to make sure that you consult with a qualified sound therapist who will offer you expert advice and provide you with the right sound therapy to help you feel more relaxed, energized and more mobile.